16 Nov 2017The government has delayed its new Tax-Free Childcare scheme for parents of children aged between seven and 12. Under the initiative, tax relief of up to 20% is available for childcare costs, up to a total of £10,000. The scheme is therefore worth a maximum of £2,000 per child (£4,000 for a disabled child). Children aged under 12 are eligible for the scheme, as well as disabled children aged up to 17. The delay comes following reports that parents faced technical difficulties when trying to apply for the scheme on the government’s Childcare Choices website. As a result, the government stated that it will be staggering applications for the initiative by age of child between now and March 2018. In addition, the Treasury said that the Tax-Free Childcare scheme will be open to parents of older children ‘over the coming months’, and that all parents will be able to apply by the end of March 2018. All parents were supposed to be permitted to join by the end of this year. Parents of children aged 6 or under will be able to apply on 24 November 2017. The Childcare Choices website can be accessed here.